Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-04

committee and IL Is very probable that
nothing Will be done at this session II con
gress.
The house has voted an appropriation
for new war vessels. The appropriation
calls for e., 410, 90 for the construction OF
two swift double bottomed steel cruisers,
each of about 400 tons displacement, OF
the type of the Newark, except boilers
and machinery; four OF about ZOO tons
displacement, of the type OF gunboat NO.
l. and one swift torpedo boat-said vessels
TO cost altogether, exclusive OF armament,
not more than s4,95o.O0O
President Cleveland has vetoed the bill
for a public building at Portsmouth, Ohio,
and very plainly says the government
business of that city must be done in "A
rented building.
BY strictly party vote Senator ingalls,
has been elected president pro tenn OF the
senate. Mr.. ingalls, took the oath OF Office
Saturday, Feb ~. When he took the chair
he said that, while he would inevitably suf-
fer disparagement 10y contrast with the
parliamentary learning, skill urbanity and
accomplishments of his illustrious pred
ecessor he would strive to excel him in
grateful appreciation Of the distinguished
honor conferred.
The evils resulting from the want Of a
penitentiary under the direct supervision
of the United States for the confinement
of United states prisoners, has been re-
peatedly brought 10 the attention of con
gress. but nothing has ever been accom-
plished TO change the present prac-
tice of boarding them at differ
ent state institutions. The house
committee on judiciary have given the
matter some attention but the committee
refuse 10 recommend that IA government
prison shall be built and run by the gov
! eminent The minority report contains
a statement relative TO the Detroit house
of correction, which we give as an item of
interest TO our readers
I'm the house OF correction at Detroit
there were on June 30, 1855. pa United
States prisoners confined. To this institu-
ton are committed 10y the authorities OF
the city Of Detroit only offenders against
and violators of the law, convicted OF
petty oiienseS and sentenced 10 terms not
exceeding one year In that institution
the manufacture of chairs l. extensively
carried on. and 10 such an extent as 70
work great injury 10 the furniture manu-
facturers OF that city and state. The
manufacturers who have their capital in
vested manufacturing furniture in Michii
gan a we'll "a the workmen. complain at
this unjust competition. 10 Is obvious
that were IL not tor the long term prison
er> in that Institution some of them under
sentence for life. this industry would not
be, a. it j., practically ruined outside OF
the prison. II Is estimated that one-thlrd
of the prisoners received at the Desroit
house of correction. outside of Wayne
county are United States prisoners from
other states and territories. The Detroit
house OF correction Il a city institution,
and is not on the contract plan. The
United States prisoners are all long
timer, none OF them less than year
and most of them from five years 10 life.
Each nlted States prisoner represents
days work every working day IN the year,
and. in view of their long sentences and
skilled workmanship, they are kept 10y the
institution without charge 10 the govern
ment. while any county OF Michigan, in
Guiding Wayne, outside of Detroit pays
minimum rate of = per week for board.
| The labor of the prison i devoted entirely
to chair. cradle and bedstead making. SO
much detrment has resulted 10 the indus
tries of that state from the concentration
of ulted States prisoners at this lnstltu-
ton that the legislature OF the state has
taken hold of the subject and passed law
absolutely prohibiting the Importation OF
prisoners to that institution. We think
the time has come when the government
should adopt measures 10 take care of its
own convict,. Wherever United States
prisoners are confined IN any numbers in
prisons not directly under control of the
government they work great hardship TO
honest enterprise and labor, and are
profit only 10 the prison contractors ana
authorities.
The senate adopted Mr.. Edmund's SUBJ
stitute for the uro-pneumonia bill, APP
prOpriating slOUOOD 10 be expended by
direction Of the president for the suppress
sion OF the disease, but subsequently re-
considered II, and laid ~ aside There Is
very poor prospects that the measure will
be considered again at the present session.
The house of representatives. by n vote
OF rs TO rs practically decided that there
snail be no retaliatory legislation at this
session of congress. The vote was on the
Belmont substitute for the bill which
passed the senate four weeks ago. and by
this vote the house determined To substi-
tute the more radical for the more mod
crate measure. Belmont wanted absolute
non intercourse between the two countries
and 10 bring this about he was willing to
extend the embargo to the rolling stock of
Canadian railroads The debate on the
matter extended from II O'Clock a. m
to p. m, and called forth all sorts of
patriotism and guSh from the able repre-
sentatives on the floor. The members
from New England were far more moder-
ate in their demands than those from the
southern states Massachusetts, and
Names representatives declared that the
fishermen most interested did not ask for
the Belmont bill. but would be entirely
satisfied to apply the same treatment to
Canadian vsssels that Canada metes TO
those sailing under the United States flag.
But the house was not disposed TO pay any
attention 20 the wants of New England,
and the northwest. which is directly CON
cerned in the proposition to exclude
Canadian cars and engines, cut no figure
in the controversy. The bill ms amended
was passed by "A vote of 252 to /.
The bill 20 create the department OF ag-
riculture and labor has passed the senate
| The bill creates an executive department
TO he known as the department of agricul-
ture and labor, with "a secretary and assist
ant secretary 70 he appointed by the
president, 10y and with the advice and CON
sent of the senate. The secretary is 10 re-
ceiye the same salary as the heads of the
other executive departments and the as
sistaut secretary the same as the assistant
secretary of the interior department. The
bureau of labor and the weather service of
the signal service bureau are 10 be trans
terrcd TO the department of agriculture
The bill reported 10y Senator Morgan
from the committee ON foreign relations
TO encourage the holding of a colored
world : fair in ISIS. authorizes the presi-
dent to appoint six commi -sioners upon
the recommendation of the directors of
colored worlds fair association and five
additional commi .sionerS upon the recon-
meudation Of the subscribers 10 the enter
prise in the city I'm which il may he located
to constitute "A board of management of